Currently— May 2nd, 2022
What you need to know, currently.
For the first time ever, one of the water intake pipes in Lake Mead — responsible for supplying Las Vegas with water — is visible above the lake's surface. pic.twitter.com/q8deedcgqX
— Las Vegas Locally 🌴 (@LasVegasLocally) April 27, 2022
In an article, “Critical water reservoirs in West at all-time low,” Currently’s editor-in-chief Abbie Veitch, writes about how the climate change fueled megadrought in the American West has affected Lake Mead, the largest man-made reservoir in the United States.
The drought-stricken reservoir sits on the Colorado river along the border of Nevada and Arizona and supplies water to 25 million people. It’s also the main water source for the city of Las Vegas.
“The Colorado River, which provides water to seven western states, has been in crisis due to drought and dropping water levels for several years,” Veitch writes.
Due to human influenced climate change and Earth’s rising temperatures, Lake Mead has reached historically low water levels. In fact, the lake’s water levels have sunk so much that the top of its original water intake valve from 1971 is now exposed. And, it can’t even draw water anymore.
Veitch explains that the reservoir has three valves: the original, which can intake water at 1050 feet above sea level, one that can intake water 1000 feet above sea level and a third– the newest one– that can intake water 900 feet above sea level.
The first valve is no longer functional and if Lake Mead’s water level continues to drop— the second and third valves could see the same fate.
“If the lake dips below an elevation of 900 feet, Hoover Dam will no longer be able to release water downstream from the Colorado River to California, Arizona, and Mexico,” Veitch writes. “That’s obviously bad news.”
The water levels at Lake Powell, the second-largest reservoir on the Colorado River, is also taking a plunge, threatening Glen Canyon Dam’s ability to produce hydropower and supply electricity for more than three million people across the region.
Read the full article: Critical water reservoirs in West at all-time low.